Games People Play (2019 TV series)

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Games People Play
GenreSports drama
Based onGames Divas Play
by Angela Burt-Murray
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Tracey Edmonds
  • Angela Burt-Murray
  • Vanessa Middleton
  • Kim Newton
  • Jazmyne Davis
Running time41 minutes
Production companiesEdmonds Entertainment
STX Entertainment
Original release
NetworkBET
ReleaseApril 23, 2019 (2019-04-23) –
present

Games People Play is an American drama television series, based on the novel Games Divas Play written by Angela Burt-Murray, that premiered on April 23, 2019, on BET.[1]

On November 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a second season.[2]

Premise

Games People Play takes place "inside the high-stakes world of professional sports where everyone plays to win. With an ensemble cast of dynamic characters including an ambitious reporter, a millionaire basketball player, a desperate housewife, a scandalous groupie, and a murderous stalker, the series follows three women Nia, Vanessa and Laila and the men in their lives. In a ruthless battle for success, these women's passions and motivations are seldom altruistic, but their life choices and drive will determine what it really takes to stay on top."[3]

Cast

Main

  • Lauren London as Vanessa King, a desperate basketball wife trying to protect her family (season 1; recurring season 2)[4][5]
  • Karen Obilom as Nia Bullock, a tenacious reporter struggling to rebuild her tarnished career.[4]
  • Parker McKenna Posey as Laila James, a scandalous groupie looking to become a star[4]
  • Sarunas Jackson as Marcus King, a professional basketball all star, who played for New York Gladiators, but traded to the Los Angeles Vipers, is married to Vanessa
  • Jackie Long as Kareem Johnson, Marcus' best friend and assistant, who was a former basketball star for the Gladiators and a college basketball standout
  • Kendall Kyndall as Marquis "MJ" Jackson, Nia's assistant and best friend (season 2; recurring season 1)[5]
  • Karrueche Tran as Eden Lazlo, the daughter of the Los Angeles Vipers owner and the newly named VP of basketball operations, who further complicates Marcus' love life (season 2)[5]

Recurring

  • Barry Brewer as Eric Rowland, Nia's live-in boyfriend, an IT nerd who is a basketball all-star captain
  • Morgan Walsh as Ginger Gates
  • Monti Washington as Terrence Abrams, Nia's ex-boyfriend and a City of Los Angeles police chief, who wants to pick up where they left off when Nia moves to Los Angeles
  • Shaun Robinson as Kristen Kensington
  • Rachel Leyco as Susie Q (A.K.A. Natasha), Laila's friend
  • Ryan Paevey as Bryce Daniels, a Los Angeles Vipers fan
  • Kevin McNamera as Coach Kelly Buxton, a coach
  • Kevin Jackson as Jamal "The Criminal" Jerome, a thief and a drug dealer
  • Vanessa Simmons as Jackie Herman
  • Alfredo Tavares as Keaun Stevenson, the coach for the Los Angeles Vipers
  • Delvon Roe as Dante Herman, a college basketball player, professional basketball player and the husband of Jackie
  • Phillip G. Carlson as Detective Anderson Loomis
  • Ismeli Henriquez as Kalinda Walters
  • Jack Merrill as Detective Frank Thrillin
  • Tracy Melchior as Roxanne
  • Chinedu Oji as Ceawen Maduenu, a basketball player for the Tulsa Tornado
  • Momo Dione as Atebe Sekibo, a Nigerian Gangster[4]
  • Lourdes Gonzalez as Merlot
  • Gail Bean as Quanisha
  • Ben Shields as Gus, a reporter
  • Mike Bash as Tony, a sports reporter
  • Jerry Cummings (Frvrose) as Himothy “He-Man” Taylor, a basketball player for the Austin Stallions, traded to the LA Vipers

Guest

Partial list of guest by last name.

  • Anisha Adusumilli as Anushka
  • Terrah Bennett Smith as Rosalind Jackson
  • Jennie Fahn as Janet, Vanessa's lawyer
  • Giana Garcia as Deja
  • Blaine Gray as Cameron Pike, a basketball player
  • Jamaal Lewis as Handsom Manny
  • John A. Lorenz as ADA Martin Escovedo
  • Nazanin Mandi as Zara, wife to new Viper player Tyreck.[6]
  • Aaron Marshall as Theodore Delano.[4]
  • Alveraz Ricardez as Officer Mel Friendly
  • Jeremie Rivers as Jebediah Hawthorne, a reverend
  • Ron J. Rock as Jason Brown, a basketball player
  • Greice Santo as Yoga Nanny
  • Owen Saxon as Thomas, a trainer and a basketball player for the Los Angeles Vipers
  • Marie Stark as Deanna George
  • Norman Towns as Tyreck Woolridge, a basketball player for the Tulsa Tornado
  • Shabnam Yusufzai as Ana Reyes, a housekeeper
  • Zach Zublena as Jasper White, a basketball player for the Tulsa Tornado

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [7]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [7]US viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Janice CookeVanessa MiddletonApril 23, 2019 (2019-04-23)0.76[8]
22"Lover's Moon"Rob MorrowKim NewtonApril 30, 2019 (2019-04-30)0.53[9]
33"The Drink of Kings"Rob MorrowStephen GodchauxMay 7, 2019 (2019-05-07)0.37[10]
44"The Wrath of Grapes"Michael GrossmanMike FlynnMay 14, 2019 (2019-05-14)0.46[11]
55"To Live and Lie in LA"Michael GrossmanTheodore WitcherMay 21, 2019 (2019-05-21)0.38[12]
66"Reversal of Fortune"Janice CookeSara Finney-JohnsonMay 28, 2019 (2019-05-28)0.51[13]
77"Persons of Interests"Rob MorrowVanessa Middleton & Sara Finney-JohnsonJune 4, 2019 (2019-06-04)0.40[14]
88"A Wing and a Prayer"Rob MorrowStory by : Vanessa Middleton
Teleplay by : Meagan Diane
June 11, 2019 (2019-06-11)0.41[15]
99"The B' is Back"Janice CookeTheodore WitcherJune 18, 2019 (2019-06-18)0.41[16]
1010"The Way You Save"Janice CookeVanessa MiddletonJune 25, 2019 (2019-06-25)0.58[17]


Production

Development

On April 17, 2018, it was announced that BET had the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. Executive producers were set to include Tracey Edmonds, Angela Burt-Murray, and Vanessa Middleton, who was also expected to act as showrunner. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Edmonds Entertainment.[3][18] On December 6, 2018, it was reported that Middleton would write the pilot episode of the series and serve as a co-showrunner alongside Kim Newton, who will also executive produce.[19] On January 31, 2019, it was announced that the series had been retitled Games People Play.[20] On April 1, 2019, it was announced that the series will premiere on April 23, 2019.[1]

On November 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a second season.[2]

Casting

On December 6, 2018, it was announced that Lauren London, Parker McKenna Posey, and Karen Obilom had been cast in leading roles.[19] On January 31, 2019, it was reported that Sarunas J. Jackson and Jackie Long had joined the main cast and that Barry Brewer and Kendall Kyndall would appear in a recurring capacity.[20]

On September 10, 2020, it was announced that Karrueche Tran will join the series for Season 2. It was also announced that Lauren London will appear in a limited role and Kendall Kyndall will join the main cast.[5]

Filming

Principal photography for the series commenced on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "As One Saga Ends, Another Begins During a Monumental Tuesday Night on BET". The Futon Critic. April 1, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "BET Networks Announces Second Season Pick up for Its Bold and Sexy Scripted Series "Games People Play"". The Futon Critic. November 13, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Pedersen, Erik (April 17, 2018). "BET's 2018-19 Slate Features New Scripted Shows, Docuseries, Specials & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Games People Play (TV Series 2019-)". IMDb. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d "Karrueche Tran to Star in Season Two of BET's "Games People Play"". The Futon Critic. September 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "BET's 'Games People Play' Rounds Out Season 2 Cast With Brandi Denise". BET. ViacomCBS. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Games People Play – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  8. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 24, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.23.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  9. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 1, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.30.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  10. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 8, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.7.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  11. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 15, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.14.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  12. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 22, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.21.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 29, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.28.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  14. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 5, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.4.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  15. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 12, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.11.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  16. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 19, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.18.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  17. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 26, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.25.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  18. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 17, 2018). "BET Upfront Slate Features 'Dream Team,' '90s Girl Group Docuseries". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  19. ^ a b c Petski, Denise (December 6, 2018). "'Games Divas Play': Lauren London, Parker McKenna Posey & Karen Obilom To Star In Tracey Edmonds' BET Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Petski, Denise (January 31, 2019). "'Games People Play': Sarunas J. Jackson & Jackie Long To Star In BET Drama Series; Barry Brewer, Kendall Kyndall To Recur". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

External links